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University racing car steered into pole position at the Silverstone Experience

03/09/2020

The University of Wolverhampton Race Team (UWR) unveiled its new Formula 3 racing car livery at one of the country’s most iconic racing venues – taking its place in motor sport history.

The UWR Formula 3 racing car was steered into pole position and is on display for two weeks at the Silverstone Experience, the new £20M visitor attraction at Silverstone Circuit.

The University is a Founding Partner of the Experience and has a five-year sponsorship deal with the new attraction based in Northampton, working with the team to inspire the next generation of engineers with the hands-on family attraction.

The Silverstone Experience is an archive of the British Racing Drivers’ Club which is on display in a newly-restored Second World War RAF hangar, telling the story of Silverstone motor racing circuit.

The project, which is supported by HRH Prince Harry and stars from across motor sport, including world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Formula 1 engineer Ross Brawn and commentator Murray Walker, was opened last year.

Sally Reynolds, CEO of Silverstone Heritage Ltd, says: “Creating a home to tell the historic story of Silverstone was first discussed by the BRDC as long ago as 1971, so I am immensely proud to see this seven-year long project come to fruition.

“We should have up to 40,000 school children coming through on formalised trips to do workshops, experience the tech labs, learn about tyres and how brakes work and really to understand why science, engineering, technology and maths are such important subjects.

“We’re really pleased to have the support of the University of Wolverhampton and we’re looking forward to working with the team to inspire the next generation of people to work in the engineering industry.”

 

Shane Kelly, UWR Racing Driver, said: “This is really a match made in heaven for the University because the Silverstone Experience really touches on the British legends, the winners but also the wider industry.

“To have our car here next to Hamilton’s and Mansell’s is a real honour. We’ve got a graduate who has been hand-picked by Hamilton’s team to work on his car which and it’s our aim to promote careers in the industry to young people who visit the Experience.”

Visitors can learn about the science behind the modern-day sport as well as seeing historic cars and bikes including Barry Sheene’s 1979 Suzuki, leathers and helmet – modified with a hole to allow him to smoke whilst wearing it – and Nigel Mansell’s 1992 British Grand Prix-winning Williams.

Unseen items including programmes and trophies from the BRDC archives are also on display including a driver scrapbook from the 1940s, a valuable collection of BRDC gold stars won by Formula 1 champion James Hunt and a 1992 grand prix signing-on sheet featuring the signatures of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mansell and Damon Hill.

Anyone interested in studying engineering at the University should contact the Clearing Hotline on 01902 518585 or through our social media channels: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For more information contact the Corporate Communications Team 01902 322736/518647 or out of office hours on 07973 335112 or email: comms@wlv.ac.uk.

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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